Citrus tree named ‘Gremoy47’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Citrus  tree, ‘Gremoy47’, that is characterized by its cold hardiness and its fruit with few seeds, an easy to peel skin, and a sweet, tart flavor.

Botanical classification: Citrus reticulata.

Varietal denomination: ‘Gremoy47’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of satsumamandarin tree, botanically known as Citrus reticulata ‘Gremoy47’,referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Gremoy47’.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventors in San Antonio, Tex., U.S.A. The overallpurpose of the breeding program is the creation of Satsuma (mandarins)and tangerine hybrids that exhibit the fruit quality of Satsumas and thecold tolerance of select cold hardy tangerine varieties.

‘Gremoy47’ was selected by the Inventors in 2005 as a single unique treethat resulted from embryo rescue of a seed obtained from a cross made bythe Inventors in 1998 between Citrus reticulata ‘Changsha’ (notpatented), a tangerine, and an unnamed seedling of Citrus reticulatavar. unshui (syn, Citrus unshui, not patented), a manderin, as the maleparent.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings in San Antonio, Tex. in 2005 by one of the Inventors. It hasbeen determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar of Citrus.

-   -   1. ‘Gremoy47’ has been observed to be cold hardy to at least        12° F. (defoliation occurs at temperatures below about 15° F.,        foliage is evergreen above about 15° F.)    -   2. ‘Gremoy47’ exhibits fruit that is similar in quality to high        quality Satsuma type Citrus trees with few seeds present (0 to 4        per fruit).    -   3. ‘Gremoy47’ exhibits fruit with an easy to peel skin.    -   4. ‘Gremoy47’ exhibits fruit with a sweet and tart flavor.

‘Gremoy47’ is readily distinguished from its female parent plant,‘Changsha’. Although ‘Changsha’ exhibits slightly better cold hardiness,the fruit of ‘Gremoy47’ is much improved, as the fruit of ‘Changsha’ isless flavorful, has abundant seeds, and more difficult to peel. Incomparison to the male parent, a satsuma type seedling selection,‘Gremoy47’ is more cold hardy and the flavor of ‘Gremoy47’ fruit is moretart. ‘Gremoy47’ can be compared to Citrus retuculata var. unshiu ‘Seto’(not patented). ‘Seto’ differs from ‘Gremoy47’ in being less cold hardy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the distinguishingcharacteristics of the new cultivar ‘Gremoy47’. The photographs weretaken of the tree and fruit of an 8 year-old tree as grown in SanAntonio, Tex.

FIG. 1 shows a tree of ‘Gremoy47’ in fruit.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section and a section of the fruit of ‘Gremoy47’.

FIG. 3 shows three entire fruits of ‘Gremoy47’.

FIG. 4 shows a peeled fruit of ‘Gremoy47’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the Citrus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of four year-old plants (fromcuttings) of ‘Gremoy47’ as grown in 30-gallon containers in El Campo,Tex. with measurements of mature trees taken from plants grown in atrial plot for a period of 8 years. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in temperature, day length, light intensity, soil types andwater and fertility levels, without, however, any variance in thegenotype. The color codes numbers refer to The 2007 Royal HorticulturalSociety's Colour Chart, London, England; except when general color termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Tree description:    -   -   Tree type.—Sub-tropical shrub.        -   Tree habit.—Broad, upright growth habit.        -   Tree size.—Reaches about 8 to 10 feet in height and 8 feet            in width.        -   Trunk description.—Multi-stemmed from base, a seven year-old            plant has an average of 8 main stems from base; an average            of 4.5 cm in diameter observed 30 cm above soil level.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Diseases and pests.—No unique susceptibility or resistance            has been observed when grown with other satsumas/tangerines            cultivars.        -   Hardiness.—At least U.S.D.A. Zone 8A, has been found to be            hardy to at least 12° F. and remains evergreen to about 15°            F.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings or budding onto rootstock.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branched, branching at approximately            45° from main stems.        -   Branch diameter.—Average of 6 cm.        -   Branch surface.—Smooth on new growth and becoming            sandpaper-like with irregular fine ridges in 3 to 4 years.        -   Internode length.—Average of 2.5 cm.        -   Branch frequency.—Moderate.        -   Branch strength.—Strong.        -   Bark color of tree trunk.—N137A throughout, covered in a            thin layer of bark 196D in color, thickened bark turns 203B            in roughest and mature sections, slightly rough to the            touch.-   Description of mature shoots:    -   -   Stem appearance.—Young stems irregularly angular in shape,            filling out to round with age.        -   Shoot texture.—Smooth when young and sandpaper-like with            irregular fine ridges after 3 years.        -   Shoot internode length.—Average of 2.5 cm.        -   Stem strength.—Strong and flexible, not brittle.        -   Thickness of shoot at center of middle internode.—Variable            with age.        -   Shine of bark.—Juvenile; smooth, matte finish.        -   Stem color.—177A.        -   Shoot angle.—Approximately 45°.-   Description of growing shoots:    -   -   Color of shoot.—Emerging N144C, mature N137A.        -   Surface.—Sparsely pubescent.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Leaf orientation.—Upward to outward.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to ovate.        -   Leaf blade size.—Average of 12.2 cm in length and 7.2 cm in            width.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate to cuspidate, apical margin minutely            cleft.        -   Leaf base.—Rounded to attenuate.        -   Leaf surface.—Slightly glaucous to glossy, speckled with            minutely translucent glands.        -   Leaf texture.—Thick and leathery.        -   Leaf margin.—Finely crenulate to finely serrulate, with            minute translucent glands.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface emerging leaves 144A, mature            leaves N137A; lower surface emerging leaves 144B, mature            leaves 146B.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface 137C in color, lower            surface prominently raised main vein and slightly raised            lateral veins, 143C in color.        -   Petiole.—Winged, average of 2.0 cm in length, 2 mm in            diameter, wings 0.5 cm in width, 137B in color.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—Returns from wilt with no            damage, resists wind and desiccation.        -   Thorns.—Infrequent, at base of lateral branches opposite            petiole when present, 0.3 to 3 cm in length, 0.5 to 2 mm in            diameter, 137B at base, 144B towards apex.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering period.—About 2 weeks in spring in Texas, timing            is temperature and location dependent, in upper coastal            Texas, first bloom generally occurs in mid March.        -   Number of flowers.—1 to 2 per node.        -   Inflorescence type.—Single flowers.        -   Flower buds.—Globose in shape, 5 parted, NN155C in color, 1            to 1.3 cm in length and 7 mm in diameter.        -   Flower size.—3 to 3.5 cm in diameter, an average of 8 mm in            depth.        -   Flower fragrance.—Mildly sweet, gardenia-like.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright and outward.        -   Petals.—5 per flower, un-fused, elliptic in shape, acute            apex, truncate base, entire margin, about 1.8 cm in length            and 7 mm in width, color of upper and lower surface NN155C,            surface is satiny and glabrous, thick substance.        -   Sepals.—5, fused with an small acute apex on each, 144C in            color on upper and lower surface, waxy surface, triangular            in shape, entire margin, curled inward around nectary, fused            base, calyx is 4 mm in diameter, 4.5 mm in length and            circular in shape and tapering to a small tube about 3 mm in            length and width.        -   Pedicel.—144A in color, average of 1.5 mm in length and 1.5            mm in width, waxy surface.        -   Pistil.—1, 6 mm in length, style is 145B in color and 4 mm            in length, stigma is 151D in color and globose in shape,            ovary is globose in shape, inferior, waxy in appearance and            144A in color, nectary is disk-shaped, 3 to 4 mm in            diameter, 1 mm in depth, 150D in color, waxy surface.        -   Stamens.—16 to 18 per flower, filaments are fused into            upright ring, 155C in color, and 8 to 10 mm in length,            anther is oblong in shape, 7A in color and 1.5 to 2 mm in            length, pollen is dry and powdery and 21A in color.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Fruit harvest.—First picking is generally mid November if            temperature have been cool for sufficient sugar development,            last picking is generally late December just prior to            freezing temperatures.        -   Fruit type.—Hesperidium, average of 10 segments.        -   Fruit size.—Average of 7.5 cm in diameter and 5 cm in            height.        -   Fruit weight.—Average of 160 g per fruit.        -   Fruit aroma.—Skin when peeling; strong citrus oil, flesh;            orange.        -   Fruit shape.—Oblate.        -   Fruit symmetry.—Asymmetrical top to bottom hemisphere,            Nearly symmetrical right to left hemisphere.        -   Fruit flavor.—Sweet and tart.        -   Fruit skin.—Easy to peel, 0.5 cm in thickness, outer            surface; rugulose, slightly glossy, 25A, inner surface;            fibrous NN155C.        -   Color of outer surface.—25A.        -   Color of flesh.—N24A with carpel partitions 155B in color.        -   Color of albedo.—19C.        -   Navel presence.—None.        -   Skin (rind).—Easy to peel, 0.5 cm in thickness, outer            surface; rugulose, slightly glossy, 23A, inner surface;            fibrous NN155C.        -   Fruit segments.—10, kidney-shaped, an average of 5 cm in            length and 1.5 cm in width.        -   Fruit set.—Medium, heavily dependent on early spring weather            during bloom.        -   Seed.—0 to 1 seeds per section, 0 to 2 seeds per fruit.        -   Texture of flesh.—Juicy, glossy, slight indentations.        -   Cropping frequency.—Annually.        -   Fruit brix.—12 from refractometer.        -   Juice production.—Average of 100 ml per fruit.        -   Fruit keeping quality.—About 4 weeks at room temperatures            before rind begins to mummify and fruit volume begins to            shrink from dehydration, 6 to 8 weeks if refrigerated with            humidity control.        -   Fruit shipping quality.—Thin skinned, soft and fragile;            packing materials must be used to provide structural support            and even weight distribution.        -   Fruit use.—Primarily for fresh consumption but may be            juiced.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of orange tree named‘Gremoy47’ as described and illustrated herein.